VERIVERY's Kangmin has firmly denied involvement in recent dating rumors and announced plans for legal action.
Rumors Sparked by Misidentified Video
On September 29, Jellyfish Entertainment released a statement addressing speculation that spread after a media outlet reported on leaked CCTV footage allegedly showing a male idol and a female idol engaging in skinship at a bar. The report vaguely described the individuals as members of a seven-member boy group and a four-member girl group.
Some netizens speculated that the male idol was Kangmin. However, closer inspection of the footage proved otherwise — the man's face did not match Kangmin's appearance. The agency stressed that the rumors are "entirely false and malicious misinformation."
Strong Legal Response Planned
Jellyfish Entertainment emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward the spread of false claims:
"We will pursue strong legal action against those who created, spread, and reproduced these baseless rumors, with no leniency," the agency declared.
They added that consistent and strict measures will continue to prevent further harm caused by false information.
Female Idol Also Dragged Into Speculation
Online chatter also linked the female in the video to Julie of Kiss of Life. Her agency responded cautiously, stating, "This is a matter of personal privacy. The company has no comment."
Kangmin's Recent Activities
Kangmin recently gained spotlight through Mnet's survival program Boys Planet 2 (BOYS2PLANET), finishing in ninth place. Following the finale on September 25, he expressed determination for the future: "Although BOYS2PLANET has ended, my life is still ahead of me. I will continue to do my best."
Would you like me to also prepare a follow-up piece on how agencies in K-pop are increasingly using legal action to protect idols from malicious rumors and online defamation? That could provide broader industry context.